"Brother Yang, come with me to Canghai Hall. With our Yan Family ancestor looking after you, you're sure to make a name for yourself down the road." Yan Luo extended the invitation with genuine warmth.
Yang Kai offered a faint smile. "I appreciate the kind offer, Family Head Yan, but I have no interest in joining Canghai Hall. I'll take my leave here—farewell."
Duanmu Qi, who had been chatting in low tones with Shen Cuiling, narrowed his eyes at the words. He hadn't given Yang Kai much thought before. The only reason he'd come along with Yan Luo was that he had some friendship with the man and figured he'd lend a hand. As for whatever grudge the Yan Family had with this young man, he couldn't be bothered to care.
Yet he hadn't expected the youth to actually refuse Canghai Hall—and with not a shred of respect in his tone, no less. His voice immediately turned cold: "Kid, Canghai Hall is a respectable power even within the Ancestral Domain. Ordinary cultivators would kill for a chance to join and might not even find the door. Now that we've given you the opportunity, you'd best cherish it. If you let it slip, you'll regret it someday."
Yang Kai said nothing more, simply shaking his head slowly.
Duanmu Qi's expression darkened further. He let out a light scoff. "Knows nothing of what's good for him!" A provincial bumpkin from some lower star field, and he dared act this arrogant? The aura of the Dao Source Realm flared from Duanmu Qi as he moved to put pressure on Yang Kai.
Yang Kai nearly laughed out loud.
Duanmu Qi was nothing more than a first-stage Dao Source Realm cultivator. Where he got the nerve to act high and mighty in front of an Emperor Realm powerhouse was beyond Yang Kai. If he actually unsealed all his cultivation, wouldn't that frighten everyone here to death?
"What do you think you're doing, Duanmu Qi?" Another Dao Source Realm aura suddenly swept outward, colliding silently with Duanmu Qi's and dissolving it into nothing. It belonged to a powerfully built man with a rough but jovial bearing, his cultivation equal to Duanmu Qi's and therefore unafraid of him. "Have you forgotten the rules? Stealing someone right in front of us, are you?"
"Exactly. This friend has already said he doesn't wish to join Canghai Hall. Why keep harping on about it? Show some dignity, would you? Don't make the people of the Ancestral Domain look bad."
"Come, come, come, young man—don't be afraid. Not joining Canghai Hall is the wise choice. What does Canghai Hall even have to offer? Better to join us at Sacred Moon Peak! Bright prospects ahead and plenty of benefits to be had!"
"Come to Nine Star Hall! As long as you have the aptitude, I guarantee you'll reach the Dao Source Realm within ten years!"
"Hee hee, how about you consider our Yin-Yang Sect? Once you're in, you can take any of the senior or junior sisters home with you. And this young lady behind you—her face is like peach blossoms. If I'm not mistaken, that's the 'Peach Blossom Physique,' which is perfectly suited for cultivating our sect's closely guarded secret arts. Why not give it some thought?"
...
He Yunxiang stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as a crowd of Void King experts and above enthusiastically extended invitations to Yang Kai—to Yang Kai and her, both.
These were all Void King realm experts and above?
Where was their dignity? Where was their composure?
He Yunxiang felt like a wealthy commoner who had stumbled into a marketplace with a fortune in hand, only to be swarmed by fawning vendors.
What was going on? Why was this happening? Something had to be off.
In just a short while, nearly every Void King expert present had spoken up with an invitation. A rough count put the total at no fewer than a dozen factions.
An elderly man puffing on a long-stemmed pipe stepped forward. He didn't approach Yang Kai but went straight to He Yunxiang, solemnly pressing something into her hand. "Join Changsheng Pavilion. As long as you contribute, these things are unlimited." The old fox was apparently trying an indirect route—if he could win over the woman at Yang Kai's side, wouldn't the rest come easily?
He Yunxiang looked down at her palm. A familiar-looking spirit pill immediately caught her eye.
Wasn't that a Yuan Condensation Pill? She had taken quite a few of them recently and knew them all too well, recognizing it on the spot. However... compared to the ones Yang Kai had given her, this pill was noticeably inferior. The medicinal fragrance was far less potent, the size smaller, and the color slightly dull—looking malnourished, practically.
She understood at once. The Yuan Condensation Pills Yang Kai had given her must have been among the finest pills of their grade. How could the one in her hand possibly compare?
He Yunxiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but her confidence in Yang Kai only grew. Setting everything else aside, just from the pills alone, none of these people could match his resources.
On the small rise, Duanmu Qi of Canghai Hall and the two members of the Yan Family wore unhappy expressions. Yan Luo in particular was seething with anxiety. He had counted on reaching the Ancestral Domain and having the family ancestor teach Yang Kai a lesson—the boy needed to know the consequences of offending the Yan Family. He never expected this turn of events.
He was beginning to understand what his ancestor was wary of: making a move against Yang Kai with so many eyes watching was out of the question.
If Yang Kai joined another sect now, there would likely never be a chance for revenge. He turned to glance at the ancestor, but Yan Renhao simply shook his head slowly, indicating there was nothing he could do.
Yan Luo clenched his fist, the rage in his chest having nowhere to vent.
"I appreciate everyone's good intentions." Yang Kai cupped his fists casually and smiled. "But for the time being, my companion and I have no plans to join any faction. My apologies."
The clamor cut off abruptly. Every pair of eyes fixed on Yang Kai as though he were a fool.
The seductive woman from the Yin-Yang Sect spoke in a low voice: "Young man, I don't know what grudge you have with that Yan fellow, but if you don't find some protection now, you'll find it hard to take a single step in the Ancestral Domain."
The pipe-smoking elder echoed her in a murmur: "A wise man knows when to bend. A real man should be able to stretch and contract as needed. A little patience is a small price to pay."
Yang Kai shook his head. "I thank you all."